Brake beam strut bushing



July 14, 1936. I v H HARaEFgT 2,047,732

BRAKE BEAM STRUT BUSHING Filed Oct. 29, 1954 Patented July 14, 1936BRAKE BEAM STRUT BUSHING Victor H. Harbert, Chicago, Ill., assignor toIllinois Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofIllinois Application October 29, 1934, Serial No. 750,508

101mm v(c1. 1ss-2s1) V My invention relates to bushings whereby thestrutsjof the brake beams of a railroad carwill be relieved of the wearusually encountered by theni ovements of the pins whereby one of thelevers of the brake mechanism is pivotally mounted in the strut of thebeam. I V V In practice, certain of the levers of the'brake mechanismare pivotally secured in a transversely disposed slot in the strut ofthe brake beam by means of loosely held pins which are free to oscillatein the pin-holes .oi the strut, with the result that the holes in thestrut (one in each bifurcation or side wall on opposite sides of thelever receiving slot) become worn and enlarged, allowing improper playand positioning of the brake beams.

As the relative movement between the pins and the struts of the brakebeams is exceedingly frequent, the wear on the struts is more or lessrapid. This necessitates a dismantling of the beams and the removal anddiscarding of the struts, incurring considerable expense and delay.

The object of my invention is to provide a wear-resisting bushing whichmay be readily formed of suitable tempered metal and which can be easilyapplied to the pin receiving openings in the strut without alteration ofthe latter and without difficulty.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bushing whose relationwith the strut is such that the bushing will be held against movement orrotation and whereby a standard sized pin may be employed.

The objects and advantages of my invention will all be readilycomprehended from the following detailed description of the accompanyingdrawing wherein:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a brake beam, one end being broken awayand with my improved bushing applied.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2,looking in the way of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the bushings shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating a modification ofthe bushing; while Figure 6 is a side elevation of the same.

For purposes of exemplification I have shown a well known type of brakebeam provided with the strut l0 provided with the usual elongated slot lI adapted to receive the lever i2 of the brake mechanism; this leverbeing pivotally held in place by a suitable pin l3 which extends throughsuitable registering holes made in the bifurcated portion or side wallsof the strut disposed on opposite sides of thelever receiving slot H.

As there is'almost constant relative movement between the strut andthepin, the pin Win a 5 comparatively brief period of time causes theholes in the strut ill to be soworn that animproper relation between thelever 12 and the brake beam occurs which interferes'with proper brakeapplication and necessitatesa dismantling 10 and discarding of the strutalthough, excptfor theworn holes, otherwise still in serviceable con;dition. As can readily be understood, this-results in considerableexpense and delay or los's of car service. 1

My invention is designed to overcome this difficulty and expense byproviding means which may equally as well be employed on new struts andon old or partially worn struts and in the particular exemplification ofthe invention as 20 disclosed in the first four figures of the inventionit consists of a steel annular member or bushing I [4 formed from asingle piece of metal with the ends arranged in abutting relation asshown more clearly in Figure 4.

In order that these ends may resist any transverse strains, I prefer toprovide one end with an extension or lobe as at l5; while the other endis provided with a corresponding indentation at It adapted to receivethe lobe l5 and thus prevent lateral movement of either end relative tothe other.

The bushing M, at a point preferably diametri-- cally opposite the splitportion. and at one end, is provided with an integral radially disposedlug 35 II. This lug ll is adapted to extend beyond the perimeter of thepin receiving hole in the strut and prevents the bushing from movingoutwardly from the pin hole in the strut.

The bushings are inserted in the pin-holes in the two- Walls of thestrut from the inner ends of the holes adjacent the lever l2, with thelugs I! made to lap the walls of the-struts. The lever l2, of course,prevents inward movement of the bushings l4, while the lugs ll,overlapping the perimeter of the pin-holes, will prevent outwardmovement of the bushings.

In order to prevent any rotative movement of the bushings throughrotative movement of the pin I3, I prefer to cut a small slot on theinner 5 faces of each of the two side walls or bifurcations of thestrut, as at it, adapted to receive the lips or lugs II as shown inFigure 2.

After the bushings i l have been inserted in place in the mannerhereto-fore stated, the lever 5 I2 is then put through the slot in thestrut and pivotally secured in place by the usual pin [3, one endwhereof is provided with a head l3 while the other end has an opening toreceive a suitable cotter pin as at l9.

It is apparent from this construction that all wear caused by therelative movement of the pin l3 in the strut will be taken entirely bythe bushing 14 and hence prevent wear on the openings in the strut, withthe result that the life or usefulness of the strut is greatly enhanced.In the event the bushing becomes worn, it is apparent that it may bereadily replaced at a comparatively small expense.

This type bushing is equally adapted to old as well as new struts; theslots 18 being readily cut or otherwise formed in an old strut; orinitially molded in new struts.

In Figures 5 and 6 I illustrate a modification adapted more especiallyto new struts, wherein the holes in the bosses or side walls 20, 20 ofthe strut on each side of the lever receiving slot are screw-threaded at2| to receive the threaded bushings 22 which are preferably ofcontinuous construction with the outer ends of the bushings providedwith the laterally disposed lugs at diametrically opposite points asshown at 23.

This type of bushing is inserted from the outer ends of the pin-holes;the bushings being screwed into place by means of some suitable toolplaced between the oppositely disposed lugs 23, 23 and the bushingscompletely screwed into place until farther inward movement is madeimpossible by the lugs 23.

This bushing is made to receive the standard length pin, the head ofwhich at opposite sides, corresponding with the position and size oflugs 23, 23, is flattened or removed to permit the head of the pin 13 tofit between, the lugs 23, 23 of the bushing.

I have shown and described my improved bushings as especially applicableto the struts of brake beams, but it will be understood that thebushings are equally well adapted to other uses or in other situationswhere a wear receiving element of this type may be employed, and I donot wish to be understood as limiting myself merely to the use inconnection with the struts of brake beams; furthermore, certainmodifications are possible and may be made without, however, departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

A strut bushing of the character described comprising, in combinationwith a brake beam strut having an elongated lever receiving slot and anintersecting pin receiving hole, the inner walls of the strut adjacentthe pin holes each having a slot, a cylindrical wear receiving member ofwidth corresponding to the thickness of the wall of the strut on eachside of the lever slot and adjacent the hole and adapted to receive thelever holding pin and insertible through the lever receiving slot, eachof said members at one of the ends being provided with a radiallydisposed lug adapted to enter said slot whereby rotative movement of thewear receiving member is prevented.

VICTOR H. HARBERT.

